Community Digest

Bellflower : City to Withhold Payment Until Edison Repairs Lights

Bellflower city officials recently announced that the city was going to stop paying its electricity bill until Southern California Edison Co. fixes about 120 street lights that City Council members say have not been working for months.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to withhold its average $30,000 monthly payment to Edison until the company improves its service.

"This has been an ongoing problem for years," Councilman Ken Cleveland said. "I don't think we are getting what we paid for. Sometimes we've got to do things to get attention, and when you hit people's wallets, they start paying attention."

Clarence Braly, a Southern California Edison manager, said the repairs had been completed by Feb. 23, but a follow-up check by the city Tuesday found 86 lights out, city officials said.